Dave B.
Guide
GuideEagle Nest Lake State Park Campground
Nice
Great views of lake and surrounding mountains. Washrooms are very clean with great showers
Dog-Friendly Camping near Red River, NM
120 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Road Runner RV Resort welcomes pets at all campsites with walking areas along the Red River. Dogs can accompany campers at numerous established campgrounds near Red River, including 4K River Ranch, Red River RV, and Columbine Campground. Most sites require pets to be leashed at all times, with designated pet waste stations throughout the grounds. Campers report the spacious sites provide ample room for pets to rest comfortably near their owners. The river access points offer opportunities for dogs to cool off during summer visits, though owners should maintain control of pets near water. Both tent and RV camping options accommodate pets, with cabin rentals at Road Runner and 4K River Ranch also permitting dogs with potential additional fees.
Mallette Creek North offers dispersed camping with pet-friendly policies for those seeking a more rustic experience with their dogs. The surrounding Carson National Forest trails provide excellent pet exercise opportunities with minimal restrictions. Several campgrounds feature fenced dog parks where pets can run off-leash, particularly at Road Runner and Red River RV. The town shuttle service operates near several campgrounds, allowing visitors with pets to access Red River's amenities without moving their vehicles. Temperatures in the area range from 50°F at night to 70°F during summer days, providing comfortable conditions for pets. Most facilities maintain clean restrooms and showers, though availability varies by campground. Wildlife encounters remain possible, so keeping dogs leashed protects both local fauna and pets during camping excursions.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Red River (120)
1. Columbine Campground (NM)
"Beautiful forest, nice campground... however, this Red River area has been taken over by groups from Texas and Oklahoma primarily. "
"All sites sit on a beautifully shaded Creek (Columbine Creek) that feeds the Red River. The vault bathrooms were extremely clean and even pleasant smelling."
from $30 / night
Check Availability2. Road Runner RV Resort
"Tucked in a canyon with a stream running through it, we secured a spot on the water. Large pine trees, tiered spots, walking distance to the cute town of Red River."
"On the Red River. Easy in and easy out. Probably one of the best in New Mexico."
3. Fawn Lakes Campground
"Very close to Red River. Not much to do at the campground but relax! A bit noisy as you are right next to the road."
"Reservations are a must on summer weekends with some one night only walk-ups available. Large but sparse tree cover and fairly close sites limit privacy."
from $30 / night
Check Availability4. Red River RV
"Great views surrounded by mountains...right on the red river. Minutes away from town and skiing.... Level spots host are amazing, super helpful and attentive."
"Kids had a lot fun playing in creek and park very close to Red River, NM so there is a lot todo. In town at ski resort."
from $38 - $45 / night
Check Availability5. 4K River Ranch
"4k River Ranch is the best campground in Red River. They've got RV sites, apartments, cabins and a beautiful penthouse in the center of town overlooking the town and mountain."
"This is the best rv park in Red River. The river runs right through the park."
from $60 - $95 / night
Check Availability6. Rio Costilla Park
"This is the first campground I’ve found in New Mexico where I felt like I was camping in Colorado, it was so green and beautiful!"
"The park is HUGE and just so beautiful. 10,000 acres of aspens and ponderosa pines only one hour away from the town of Taos."
from $30 / night
Check Availability7. Eagle Nest Lake State Park Campground
"Great spot that is quiet and has great view of lake and Mountains all around. Cool at night and just right during day. All the RV parks around here that have good reviews are way too close together."
"Eagles Nest is about 19 miles west of Taos near the Carson National Forest. The campground is on the west side of a beautiful lake I the town of Eagles Nest."
from $25 / night
Check Availability8. Tolby Campground — Cimarron Canyon State Park
"Some of the sites are immediately adjacent to the river. My favorite campground is Tolby, the Westernmost. It has a Ranger/Information Station in the east end of the campground."
"This campsite sits on the edge of a road next to two little ponds that are great for trout fishing. The river runs next to the ponds and you can find a few fish there too."
from $15 / night
Check Availability9. Cimarron Campground
"Beautiful location in a place I wasn’t expecting it to be sooo green! Very relaxing and remote as there is zero service. It was perfect & exactly what we were looking for."
"There is a walking trail at the back of the campground to get to Surree Ponds."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability10. Cabresto Lake Campground
"A vehicle with off-road capabilities is recommended if you want to reach this campground. While not impossible with a regular sedan, it does take navigating up some unpaved switchbacks."
"There are about 5 by the lake and then 3 on the trail up. It's a busy road, constant stream of people. The trail itself is maybe a 2/10 for difficulty."
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 1 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 2 hrs 36 min from Pueblo, CO
- 2 hrs 50 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 4 hrs 3 min from Farmington, NM
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Red River, NM
99 Photos of 120 Red River Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Red River, NM
656 Reviews of 120 Red River Campgrounds
- Magdalena W.
TravelerCarson national forest
Plenty of dispersed camping
I came a day earlier to Ojo Caliente and needed a place to stay. This is just 10 minutes drive from the Hot Spring. A lot of camp spots available, all Free, Forest Road. Not the cleanest spots but also not too bad. A lot of broken glass which is hard to remove. Amazing stargazing at night. This road could be tricky after a big rain – there was a big groove in the middle of the road when I was here.
- Mike M.Traveler
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Awesome campground at one of the nicest hot springs you’ll ever visit. Great farm to table restaurant and wine bar. New Mexico at its best.
- JJohn L.Guide
Questa Lodge & RV Resort
Good spot for campingn
Limited review due to rains. Nice area for quiet camping or for access to wilderness areas, hiking. Taos and Red River are 1/2 hour away for touristy stuff. During heavy rains river did not leave its banks. Sites are tight, best ones are by the river. Nice walking path by river but noticed many dog walkers not picking up after their dogs. Clean bathroom and laundry facilities. Some septic drains too high to drain properly, should be fixed. Had to move in order to dump tanks.
- RRoy R.Guide
Free Dispersed Camping
Free Dispersed Camping
This easy to miss spot is a free camping area near the ranger station. The road to get to the sites is probably only a couple hundred meters from the ranger station so slow down if you are going West on 64 and turn around if you reach the station going East on 64.
The actual camping spots are towards the very end of the road where they form a sort of triangle. There are three picnic tables with what look like fire rings. But there is a lot of open space around those three tables if they happen to be taken by any chance. I did notice that most boondockers would just park their vehicles on the side of the road along the way. So basically the entire area seems to be available for boondocking. There are no trash cans, water, more vault toilets. It's packed everything out. There are a couple of vault toilets at the ranger station and you can actually walk from the campsite area because there are trails that lead to the ranger station.
Very pretty area. Very quiet. Few vehicles on the nearby road.
Ben F.TravelerBig Arsenic Springs Campground
Amazing views, no water
All the campgrounds in the wild rivers area are very well maintained, the sites have sturdy pavilions, picnic tables and grills. Sites are nicely spaced and some have amazing canyon views. Vault-style toilets that are kept clean and stocked. Bring your own water, their "well is broken" as of Oct. 2026, so if you run out you're looking at a 20 mile drive round trip to buy a couple gallons at the local grocery store.
Bill R.
RangerLittle Arsenic Springs Campground
Remote, wild, beautiful and small.
We stayed here for two nights in early May, 2026. Camped back from the rim ,wanting shelter from the wind/rain/snow rather than the view. Really enjoyed the area, walked some of the rim trail, stopped by the visitor center(limited hours) and hiked to the river at the bottom of the gorge. The hike was spectacular and the weather was as wild as the gorge. Rain, wind and snow battered us as we climbed back out.
No water(they're working on restoring it) and a long way from anything like gas, supplies, etc.
Would definitely like to return in the future.
Chris G.GuideColumbine Campground (NM)
A little tight
Our spot was close to the road. We didn't have much shade by the table and fire-ring. But it does have access to more shade behind the site where you can pitch a tent and sit by the creek.
There's a nice hiking trail at the back on the campground you can drive to with parking.
The camp-hosts were very friendly and helpful.
James F.GuideCoyote Creek State Park Campground
Nicely maintained
This was our first trip to Coyote Creek State Park. We heard about the new loop and that appeared to have some great new sites. We were surprised on how great the new sites are. The shelters over the nice picnic table is huge! We walked the park and it was clear that the entire park was meticulously maintained. The only down side was a slip and fall on the drainage concrete in the road. Luckily, it was only a minor wrist sprain. The local ranger saw the fall and asked if I was ok. Apparently, the concrete has been an issue for some trailers and people. The toilets in the campground are clean and well maintained. We routinely visit NM state parks and this one has to be the best maintained. The side by side electrical sites isn't for us and there are other options. We plan to be back.
Guide to Red River
Camping at the Carson National Forest elevation of 8,750 feet provides cooler summer conditions than much of New Mexico. Temperature variations between day and night can exceed 30 degrees, with summer nights commonly dropping to 45-50°F. Forest Service roads leading to dispersed camping locations typically require high-clearance vehicles with several campgrounds positioned along the Red River at various elevations.
What to do
Trout fishing in stocked waters: Fawn Lakes Campground offers designated fishing areas including two ponds specifically for trout fishing. "The ponds fill up with quite a few people now. I like to walk up and down the river to find some good spots that are a little quieter," reports a visitor at Fawn Lakes Campground.
Hiking established trails: Multiple trail options exist within or connected directly to campsites. "Hiking trails from the campground," notes a camper at Columbine Campground, while another adds, "We hiked a little bit of the Columbine Twining hiking trail - can't wait to go back to be able to hike more!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area supports diverse mountain wildlife. At Eagle Nest Lake State Park Campground, campers report: "Awesome wildlife in the area. The deer would come by every evening and the prairie dogs were constantly entertaining."
What campers like
Riverside camping spots: Proximity to flowing water ranks high among camper preferences. A guest at Red River RV stated: "Our camp is right next to the river, there is a shuttle that takes you into town, the facilities are clean and close by, and the fishing is great."
Multiple camping configurations: Sites accommodate various setups. At Columbine Campground, a reviewer noted: "Pads are well maintained and each site I saw had multiple tent options. Even if your pad does not have shade, each site has ample shade to the back of the site along the Creek."
Clean facilities despite remote locations: Maintenance standards remain high at most establishments. "The vault toilets were extremely clean and even pleasant smelling," shares a camper from Columbine Campground, while another mentions: "We had access to a fire pit as well as a grill and table. The creek flowed about 75' from the site."
What you should know
Limited services and amenities: Prepare for minimal facilities at more remote locations. At Cabresto Lake Campground, a visitor warns: "Definitely need an all terrain vehicle for the drive up to lake. Rough dirt road. Got a flat tire. Campgrounds undeveloped. Very crowded. Lots of traffic throughout the day."
Weather variability: Mountain conditions change rapidly. "It rained only in the afternoons but everyday," reports a Cimarron Campground visitor, while another at Cabresto Lake notes camping seasons are typically May through September due to elevation and weather conditions.
Road conditions: Access to many sites requires planning for appropriate vehicles. "The road up to the lake is pretty rocky so we had to air down our tires so that we don't get back aches after our day 4x4 goose lake trail getaway," explains a Cabresto Lake camper.
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated children's fishing areas: Some locations provide special fishing options for younger anglers. In the Shuree Ponds area near Cimarron Campground, "The smaller was reserved for kids's fishing. Both are classied as 'Green Chile' waters so only flies or artificial lures with a single, barbless hook are allowed. 2 fish limit."
Consider campgrounds with playgrounds: Family-friendly amenities improve the experience. At 4K River Ranch, a visitor mentions: "We enjoyed the small play area and the stream."
Choose sites with level ground for tent camping: Not all sites accommodate family-sized tents equally. A Cimarron Canyon State Park visitor warned: "We stayed in the tent only portion... Problem being there are no pull in spots for the individual tent sites....just parking along the camp road. Also, sites are right on top of each other."
Tips from RVers
Watch for entry clearance at some parks: Navigational challenges exist at certain locations. At Road Runner RV Resort, a camper advises: "The gate coming into the park is tight so when the gentleman says make a lazy turn he means a REAL lazy turn."
Research site leveling before arrival: Not all RV sites provide level parking. At 4K River Ranch, the sites receive positive comments: "Level spots host are amazing, super helpful and attentive."
Consider seasonal visits carefully: Temperature variations impact comfort levels. "We stayed for 10 days during the 'off season' at the end of April. It was beautiful and quiet. The snow was melting and the river was beautiful," reports a Red River RV guest, indicating early season camping may encounter spring runoff and mud conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Red River, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Red River, NM is Columbine Campground (NM) with a 4.6-star rating from 15 reviews.
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What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Red River, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 120 dog-friendly camping locations near Red River, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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